Trump administration sues California over mail-in ballot counting
The Justice Department asked a judge to stop California from counting ballots from people flagged as likely non-citizens. Officials there face warnings of possible criminal charges.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
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What happened
The Trump administration sued California election officials and asked a judge to bar the state from counting mail-in ballots from people the federal government has flagged as likely non-citizens. President Trump warned that state officials could face jail if they count ballots from more than 200,000 people in the federal voter roll dispute. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli defended the lawsuit, alleging that 20,000 non-citizens who are documented immigrants are registered to vote and have received mail-in ballots weeks before the election.
Why it matters
The dispute centers on whether mail-in ballots from flagged voters will be counted in an upcoming election. Trump has said that state officials could face criminal charges.
Timeline
- Oct 17, 12:00 PM ET: President Trump repeated the Justice Department's warning that California officials could face criminal charges if they include the flagged mail-in ballots.
- Oct 18, 11:25 AM ET: Bill Essayli defended the lawsuit, alleging 20,000 non-citizens who are documented immigrants are registered and have received mail-in ballots.
Coverage
- California Politics 360 full episode | California, US government clash over voter rolls (kcra.com)
- Voter roll fight in California ramps up weeks before election (kcra.com)
- Trump: California officials will ‘go to jail’ if state ignores DOJ voter roll suit (The Hill)
- Big assertions, sharp exchanges, little clarity define DOJ election battle with California (Los Angeles Times)
- Trump Revives 2020 Election Conspiracies, With Help From the Federal Government (The New York Times)
- DOJ says California officials who process ballots from suspected noncitizens risk prosecution (PBS)
- DOJ sues California over mail ballots, alleging they were sent to noncitizens (Roll Call)
- Trump administration sues California to block counting of alleged noncitizen mail ballots (PBS)
- Trump Administration Sues California Over Voter Rolls (The New York Times)
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